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Mortgage Credit Certificate - Its Working, Process & How To Qualify

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Mortgage Credit Certificate - Its Working, Process & How To Qualify

What are Mortgage credit certificates?

A mortgage lender gives a document to the borrower which converts a portion of the mortgage interest paid by the borrower into a non-refundable tax credit this document is known as a mortgage credit certificate or MCC.

A mortgage credit certificate (MCC) program can be used by low- or moderate-income homebuyers to help them purchase a home.

Either loan brokers or the lenders themselves can issue, mortgage credit certificates but they are not a loan product.

The working of mortgage credit certificates

When first-time homebuyers qualify for a home loan a mortgage credit certificate helps them by reducing their tax liabilities below what they would otherwise have to pay.

Sometimes the term “mortgage credit certificate” is used to refer to the tax credit that an eligible borrower receives.

For a portion of the mortgage interest, they pay each year the borrowers can receive a dollar-for-dollar tax credit.

Every year the borrowers can get a maximum tax credit of $2,000.

A formula is used to calculate the exact amount of the tax credit a borrower will receive by taking into account the mortgage amount, the mortgage interest rate, and the mortgage credit certificate percentage.

Depending on the amount of the original mortgage loan the credit rate percentage is calculated.

The process of mortgage credit certificate

After the purchase, the contract has been signed, but before the time of closing, borrowers apply for mortgage credit certificates with the originating lender.

A non-refundable fee is charged for the service of the mortgage certificate program by the party administering it.

There is a validity of up to 120 days for the state or local approval and it can be transferred to another property in case the current loan does not close.

Homebuyers must qualify for income and purchase price criteria to take advantage of the mortgage credit certificate program.

A portion of the monthly mortgage payment can be balanced and saved by reducing the buyer’s federal tax liability, with the help of a mortgage credit certificate and tax breaks.

Borrowers now with this reduced tax liability can qualify for a loan during the initial approval process.

Once they obtain a mortgage credit certificate, and as long as the borrower remains in the home and occupies it as his principal residence he can take advantage of the tax credit every year.

In most cases, the mortgage credit certificate can be reissued if the borrower refinances the loan.

How to qualify for a mortgage credit certificate?

A borrower must contact an eligible Participating Lender, to see if they are eligible for an MCC.

Advantages and disadvantages of mortgage credit certificate

Like every program MCC too have there pros and cons.

The advantages of MCC are:

  • All the states offer a mortgage credit certificate program.
  • Every state offers a tax credit for first-time homebuyers or people who are purchasing a home in an economically distressed area through access to the federal program. Borrowers must meet certain qualifications to get into the program, and if they qualify they can save up to $2,000 per year in federal taxes.
  • A significant tax credit with the MCC program.
  • A borrower pays equal to 30% of the mortgage interest each year when they own a home, and a first-time homebuyer qualifies for this tax credit. If it is a new construction house, then a mortgage credit certificate qualifies the borrower for up to 50%. there is a cap at a maximum of $2,000 for their savings and this credit is available to the homeowner for every year.
  • So a homeowner can save $10,000 on their taxes after spending five years in the home. If he stays there for 10 years, then the saving is $20,000. There is no long-term cap to this program.
  • A first-time homebuyer can easily qualify with this program.
  • A mortgage credit certificate defines someone as a first-time homebuyer who has not owned a primary residence in which they have lived for the past 36 months. There is a one-time exception to this rule for Veterans. One can still qualify for this program even if they are divorced or are renting out another home. The only condition being a borrower has not lived on the property where they have a current mortgage in the past three years.
  • Some lenders might offer a mortgage credit certificate that does not require one to pay a down payment to get into a new home. A borrower can roll the down payment amount into the mortgage, and also pay private mortgage insurance. Till the borrowers, the financial situation can stabilize there may also be opportunities for grants, low-interest loans, or defer payments for a specific period.
  • No need for a perfect credit score to qualify.
  • Most states will let a borrower qualify for a mortgage credit certificate with a credit score of less than 700. And if a borrower makes more than $86,000 for a family of four, then they may not qualify for a mortgage credit certificate.
  • The property must qualify to specific health and safety stipulations as a mortgage credit certificate is usually treated as a first-time home buyer arrangement program. That means the home must also be free of any safety hazards, like lead-based paint.
  • The speed of mortgage origination is much faster. Some lenders will provide preapproval in few minutes.

The disadvantages of MCC are:

  • A borrower might need to pay the tax credit back.
  • Some homebuyers owe a fee back to the federal government when they want to refinance or sell their homes.
  • If a borrower plans to involve moving to a different home within five years of their mortgage origination they would need to speak to their tax advisor.
  • The fees could be applicable if –
  1. The homeowner sells the house within nine years of purchasing it.
  2. If the homeowner is making a profit from the sale of the property.
  3. If there is a significant gain in the household income within the time frame.
  • Under the mortgage credit certificate program in the United States, the maximum sales price for a home that qualifies is $250,000. So if a borrower lives in a high-income area with the average home price being above $300,000, they may not qualify for this program.
  • To qualify the home must remain as the primary residence.
  • A mortgage credit certification must be underwritten as per the rules of the state and county where the property is purchased.
  • A re-capturing fee needs to be considered with a mortgage credit certificate when the home is sold before the nine-year deadline.
  • Private mortgage insurance needs to be paid on the property until the borrower reaches an 80% loan to value ratio. Also one needs to consider closing costs and fees in this situation.
  • There might not be a qualifying lender in your area to accept you into the local program.

Conclusion

A mortgage credit certificate can be used to make home buying more affordable to qualified borrowers who have limited incomes.

To qualify for a mortgage credit certificate the borrowers must meet specific guidelines, including income limits.

The income-qualified first-time homebuyer can obtain a higher 1st mortgage because of the federal income tax advantage provided by the MCC.

Mortgage credit certificate (MCC) programs could change from one state to another state, first-time homebuyers benefit the most from MCCs, although other buyers too can qualify for them.

https://www.compareclosing.com/blog/about-mortgage-credit-certificate-mcc-program/

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